Microspray device



H. 0. SCHROEDER ETAL MICRDSPRAY DEVICE Filed July 12; 1944 ///A/////r///////v///// II ////I//////////////////////// -Oct. 22, 1946.

A LW-.L|NDQU.IST H.O.SCHROEDER i er-eased bet. 22, 1946 t 2,409,937-MICRQSPRAY DEVICE J l ierma'n 0.. sfbhroeder and hrthur Wdljlindquist,J Orlando, Fla., assignor's. .to v United States of 1 "America, asrepresented by'Claude RJW icki LrdQ,

Secretary of Agriculture, and-hissuccessors in Application July 12,1944, Serial No. 544,619

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended byvthe act of April 30,

1928, and the invention herein described, if pate ented, may bemanufactured and used by Or for the Government of the United States ofAmerica for governmental purposes without the payment to us of anyroyalty thereon.

The present invention relates to the dispersal of liquids into the airand may be used for the purpose of producing either wet sprays,colloidal suspension or aerosols, or semi-colloidal suspensions.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a device whichcan be carried about on the person and transported with a minimum ofshipping space and weight for use by troops who must be provided withinsecticidal means in various parts of the world in the present globalwar.

At the present time the shipment of supplies to troops in many parts ofthe world can only be accomplished by air transportation and the factorsof space and weight are very critical in determining whether it isfeasible to ship certain items. If the space and weight of the item aretoo large, it becomes too difficult and impracticable to deliversufficient quantities by air transportation. Furthermore, the soldierwho must carry the item into battle areas must not be overburdened withit. To this end the present invention comprises a device which is sosimple and compact that it occupies a minimum of space, not much largerthan an ordinary fountain pen and, as a matter of fact, can be securedin the pockets of wearing apparel like a fountain pen.

In the accompanying drawing there is illustrated an embodiment of thisinvention in which:

Figure l is a full size three dimensional view;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational section of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lower end of thebarrel.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, the embodimentillustrated comprises a cylindrical barrel H for holding a liquid l2 tobe dispersed. Although the device is particularly adapted forinsecticide dispersal, it is obvious that other materials may also bedispersed with it, such as perfumes, plant growth substances,deodorants, and so forth.

One end of the barrel I I is provided with a filling cap l3 and theother end with a valve l4, which is connected to a dip tube l5 inside. Adelivery tube I6 extends from the valve to the exterior of the barrel,where it terminates as a capillary tube ll, the size depending upon thetype of dispersion desired. The smaller the diameter of the capillarytube H, the smaller will be the particles dispersed. A capillary tubehaving a size of about 0.01 of an inch in diameter will result in theproduction of a very finely divided spray of the order of aerosols. Anair tube 18 extends from a point just below the end of the capillarytube ll throughv the interior of the barrel H and out through the bottomof the barrel.

The exterior lateral surface of the barrel is smooth and a cylindricalshell 20 is slidably carried on it a few inches below the top. Thebottom of the shell 20 is closed and a washer 2| of leather or othersuitable material is disposed on the bottom of the barrel to provide anair valve between the shell and the barrel on the principle of anordinary air pump. The air tube [8 extends through the washer 2| asshown. In operation, the shell 20 is reciprocated on the barrel forcinga stream of air through the tube l8. The shell is made to fit on thebarrel body somewhat loosely I in order for the pump to breathe airbetween them. The leather valve is held in position by the filling capl3 as shown.

The shell 20 is held on the barrel by means of a longitudinal groove 22on the surface of the barrel engaging a small projection 23 secured to aspring clip 21 on the outside of the shell 20, said projection operatingthrough an aperture 26 in the shell. The groove 22 extends from a pointjust above the bottom of the barrel H to a point at the uppermostposition of the projection 23. The uppermost position of the shell 20 isdetermined by a flange 24 around the body of the barrel which acts as anabutment.

In order to remove the shell from the barrel for the purpose ofrefilling the barrel or for any other-purpose, the projection 23 can bemoved outward and retracted from the groove 22 against the spring actionof the clip 21. A small knob 28, or other suitable means, is secured tothe clip 2'! for the purpose of facilitating this retraction. When theprojection 23 is retracted in this way, the shell may be easily removedfrom and replaced on the barrel. On the other hand, when the projectionis in normal position, the shell cannot be removed from the barrel.

A small indentation 29 on one side of the groove 22, about the size ofthe projection 23, may be provided to engage the projection when thedevice is not in use and thereby prevent the shell 20 from sliding down.

A pocket clip 30 may be attached to the shell 20, as shown in thedrawing.

To operate the device, the valve l4 isopened and the shell 20reciprocated on the barrel causing an'intermittent stream of air to passthrough the tube [8 and across the end of the capillary tube I1, therebydrawing liquid from the barrel and breaking it into finely dividedparticles, the; dimensions of which, as previously mentioned, l

o terior end and the inside of the container.

depending on the diameter of the :capillary tube. Having thus describedour invention, we claim:

A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical container,said container having an aperture at one end for introducing a liquidtherein to be dispersed, anair pumpvalve about said aperture, a cap forclosing saida'perture and holding said valve in position, a shellreciprocally mounted on said container over said valve to pump air, anair conduit having one end in said shell and the other end on' theexterior of the container, and tubular means between said ex- HERMAN O.SCHROEDER. ARTHUR W. LINDQUIST,

